American Edge Engineers ·
Why a small prototype change is not small for MEP
Franchise brands update their prototypes for ordinary reasons: a new menu item needs different equipment, a finish package changes the lighting, or a supplier discontinues a unit. On the brand's drawings the change is one line in a schedule. In the building it can change the electrical load, the exhaust rate and the gas or water demand at every location.
The franchise MEP design is built from the prototype, so any change to the prototype is a change to the MEP package. The question is how far it reaches and which sites it touches.
Start with the equipment schedule
The equipment schedule and the manufacturer cut sheets drive most of the MEP design. When a unit changes, compare the old and new cut sheets against each system it connects to.
| System | What to compare | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical | Connected load, voltage, phase, breaker size and connection type | The panel, feeder and service may need to grow, and some units need a dedicated circuit |
| Gas | Input rating, connection size and pressure requirement | Total demand is checked against the meter and the piping already installed |
| Exhaust and make-up air | Hood type and size, required exhaust rate, make-up air volume | A larger hood needs a larger fan, more make-up air and often a different roof opening |
| Water and drainage | Supply size, flow, indirect waste connections, temperature | May change pipe sizes, water heating and the grease interceptor sizing |
| Heat gain | Heat released into the space | Changes the cooling load and the rooftop unit selection |
New stores and open stores need different answers
Stores not yet built
The updated prototype becomes the new starting point. The MEP drawings are adapted site by site, using the current equipment schedule and the utilities and landlord criteria at that location. Check that sites already in design are moved to the new package, or you will issue drawings that are out of date on arrival.
Stores already open
The question changes: does the existing infrastructure still work with the new equipment? An older site may have a smaller electrical service, a gas line sized for the old equipment, or a hood and fan that cannot carry the new load. Review each open site before the new equipment is ordered, not after it arrives, so any upgrade can be planned into the remodel instead of discovered during installation.
Keep one current prototype package
The most common cause of drawing errors across a franchise program is an out-of-date prototype in circulation. Keep a single MEP prototype package with a date and a revision number. When the brand issues a change, update the package once and record what changed and why. Every new site then starts from the current version instead of a copy of an older project.
A short change log helps the whole team: it lets the architect, the franchisee and the contractor see at a glance whether their set matches the current standard.
Checklist: when the brand issues a prototype change
- Get the revised equipment schedule and the new cut sheets, not only the summary
- List every site by status: in design, under construction, open
- Compare old and new electrical, gas, exhaust and water requirements unit by unit
- Decide which sites move to the new package and which finish on the old one
- For open sites, review the existing service, gas line and hood before ordering
- Update the prototype MEP package once, with a revision number and a change log
- Confirm whether the change triggers a new permit or an amendment at each site
Send us the change before you order
If your brand is updating its prototype, send us the revised equipment schedule and a list of the sites affected. We will review it as part of a free franchise MEP review and tell you what changes in the MEP package, which sites are most affected and what to confirm before ordering equipment.
Next step
Learn how our MEP Design for Franchise Projects service works, or send us one drawing set for a free project review and decide after you see our work.